State Department of Transportation
Commissioner Joan McDonald announced
the extension of the public comment period
on the High Speed Rail Empire Corridor
Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS), which outlines plans for
improving passenger and freight rail service
on the Empire Corridor between New York
City and Niagara Falls.
Public comments will be accepted
through Wednesday, April 30.
“The community is critically important in
helping us plan for effective transportation
improvements, and we’re pleased that this
proposal is generating so much interest,”
McDonald said. “By extending the public
comment period, we’re making it even
easier for the public to have its say about
expanding high speed passenger rail service
to the Empire Corridor west of Albany and
enhancing service south of Albany, improvements
that will create jobs, support tourism
and economic development, and make our
environment cleaner.”
The public comment period was extended in response to community requests. It was scheduled to close Monday, March 24. It started on January 31, when the DEIS was published in the Federal Register.
The DEIS examines the feasibility of higher speed passenger rail service alternatives along the 463-mile Empire Corridor, looking at how five potential alternatives would impact mobility, the environment and economic growth across New York State. Information about the project, including a copy of the DEIS, is available on the DOT website at www.dot.ny.gov/empire-corridor and on the Federal Railroad Administration website at www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0679.
Earlier this month, more than 500 people attended six public hearings held across the state about the proposals.
Comments may be submitted on the project website, or emailed to empirecorridor@dot.ny.gov with the subject line ”Draft EIS.” Comments also may be mailed to David Chan, Project Manager, New York State Department of Transportation, 50 Wolf Road, Pod #61, Albany, NY 12232.